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Sunday, October 31, 2010

Before the evening ends I wanted to share a vintage-style papier-mâché pumpkin I made for Halloween this year. Though mine is a small candy basket, it's based on lanterns like these, from the earlier half of the 20th century. I used a balloon as the base, and covered it with strips of newspaper adhered with a flour and water paste. When it was dry, I sanded it, painted it with acrylics and added glittered details, a wire handle and some pom pom trim around the top. I also made a detachable witch's hat from paper, glitter, ribbon and berries. It clips onto the rim of the pumpkin with with a mini clothespin, shown here. Happy Halloween!

Monday, October 25, 2010

I made and photographed these "Harvest Houses" for the September/October issue of Victoria magazine. They're meant to look the tiniest bit spooky but mostly they remind me of the lights of home - the way those warmly lit windows look when seen from a distance in the cool, clear air of an aging autumn. The templates for three different house styles are all available to download at the Victoria website.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

It is something of a masterpiece, stealing in quietly after the final days of an Indian summer, filling late September with its tinted light. It withers the leaves on the sycamore; reddens ripening apples. In October it is burnt umber and fire maple. Pumpkins blush, red-orange in the sun. Vines curl and decay in the field. And grapes, in a once royal hue, rot amongst the leaves that turn from green to dust. It is a season of life and languish, autumn. But how beautiful things are just before they fade. Above: Photos I took at the pumpkin festival hosted by my brother's college.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

I've been doing a little watercolor painting in spare moments, working my way through the birds of southern California. Eventually I hope to have enough paintings to design a custom field guide for my mother, who loves watching feathered visitors alight in the backyard trees.

Friday, October 1, 2010

These paper pastries are cake toppers I made and photographed for the Ruffled wedding blog. Trimmed with beaded icing and sugared with crystal glitter, they stand a few inches tall and rest on miniature cake plates. You can find the full instructions on how to make it all - using simple craft store materials - over at Ruffled.

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